Hanover Town Meeting turns to new technology for voter check-in

The voter check-in process at the annual Town Meeting Monday was entirely electronic for the first time, as voters did not have to go to a specific line based on their voting precinct.

Poll workers checked in voters with iPads, known as poll pads, and according to Town Clerk Cathy Harder-Bernier, the entire process was a rousing success.

“People have been able to get into any line any time and it has gone great so far,” said Harder-Bernier. “We haven’t had technical issues that I’ve noticed so far tonight. I haven’t seen anyone reluctant to use things, but check back with me [laughs].”

Instead of lining up by precinct, meeting attendees could go to any of the four lines that were set up and give their information to the meeting worker. Voters could also use their license or state ID to be scanned on the back of the pad.

“Poll pads are not new to the country, but they are new to Massachusetts,” said Harder-Bernier. “They are a way to link voter’s information with voter records and check-in records and the voter information system. We used to use big books of paper, where you gave your name and address and it was laborious and took forever.”

No paper books were used at the polls, but they were there in case any problems arose and will always be there as a backup.

All voter check-ins in Rhode Island are electronic, but Massachusetts only approved the measure this past November with The Municipal Modernization Act in 2016, so this was the first opportunity for the town to use the iPads.

“We’ve represented the electronic poll books for about two years now,” said LHS Associates representative Brenda L’Italien. “Electronic poll books are nothing new and have been out for about 10 years. We’re the distributor for KNOWiNK, who is a company from St. Louis. LHS Associates has been servicing New England states for 45 years and have been doing election equipment for 31 years.”

The pads are standard iPads that have a 30-hour battery pack, so they won’t need recharging throughout the night of the meeting.

“We are really a pilot town and trying things out,” said Harder-Bernier. “We’re going to see how it works and if people like it. I’m told that people love it, but check back with me after it’s over.”

Many of the senior-aged poll workers, according to L’Italien, find the tablet technology easier to use than many of the younger workers because they are using the technology for the first time and the younger workers are quick to skip steps, thinking they already know how to use them.

“It was very easy to check in and they should be required at every election,” said John Dougherty, a 50-year Hanover resident. “You have to go through the same process just to get on an airplane [laughs]. I’m into technology as much as anyone. You have to give your information to them anyway and it’s just a better system.”

The town has not purchased the equipment yet as Monday night was a trial run with the technology. The town has already asked the state legislature and did not pass at the house level, but they will ask again at the senate level for a budget amendment in the near future, according to Harder-Bernier. If that fails, they will most likely ask again at next year’s Town Meeting.

“It’s one of those things that the whole town should weigh in on,” she said. “It shouldn’t be part of a special-interest meeting.”